Receptacle for waste

ABSTRACT

A receptacle ( 200 ) for waste, the receptacle ( 200 ) including an elongated body member ( 202 ) having a first end for locating on or in the ground and a second end with an opening ( 201 ) therein for receipt of waste, the body member ( 202 ) further including inlet means ( 212 ) to permit atmospheric air to be drawn into the body member ( 202 ) on the application of a vacuum to the body member ( 202 ), wherein contents of the receptacle ( 200 ) are capable of being drawn from the receptacle ( 200 ) on the application of a vacuum to the body member ( 202 ) by entraining with atmospheric air drawn into the body member ( 202 ) by the vacuum.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a receptacle for waste. Moreparticularly the present invention relates to a receptacle suitable fordisposal of cigarette butts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In this specification, where a document, act or item of knowledge isreferred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not anadmission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combinationthereof was at the priority date:

(i) part of common general knowledge; or

(ii) known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with whichthis specification is concerned.

The discussion which follows is particularly directed to waste in theform of used cigarette butts. It will however be appreciated that theinvention may be applicable to other forms of refuse.

A good proportion of the population smoke cigarettes. The cigarettefilter and the small amount of unburnt tobacco that remains after thebulk of the tobacco has been smoked (the “cigarette butt”) is not easilybiodegradable.

Unfortunately, large numbers of cigarette butts are disposed of in anirresponsible fashion. In many cases the butts are tossed onto theground or thrown away, or are simply stamped into the ground, with noregard for the litter problem that is created.

Many butts find their way into gutters and drains and are carried by thestormwater system into surrounding waterways such as a bay or ocean.Once in the waterway cigarette butts present a significant environmentalhazard and have even been suggested as a cause for the reduction innumbers of certain sensitive marine species.

The litter problem associated with cigarette butts seems to beparticularly acute in places where smokers congregate together. This hasbeen exacerbated more recently by an increase in the incidence ofoutdoor smoking in front of office buildings and other worksites assmoking indoors is progressively prohibited. This is often accompaniedby an absence, or an insufficient number, of conveniently locatedreceptacles for the butts, leading to unwanted butt disposal behaviour.

Disposal facilities for cigarette butts in public areas have generallytaken the form of an ashtray that forms part of a larger wastereceptacle which is generally provided by a local Council. The wastereceptacles are relatively large and costly and are so are generallyconcentrated only in busy urban areas. Because of this a smoker willtend to dispose of a cigarette butt irresponsibly rather than taking thetime to find a disposal facility.

Another problem with current disposal facilities is that the frequencyof emptying is timed to coincide with filling of the waste receptaclerather than the ashtray. This means that the ashtray has oftenoverflowed by the time the receptacle is due to be emptied, making theashtray less likely to be used.

Other facilities for the disposal of cigarette butts in public areas aredescribed in published patent specifications JP 11292201, JP 9206059 andSU 1830040. These suffer from the deficiency that they can only becleaned by manually removing and emptying the vessel into which thecigarette butts have been placed.

It would therefore be advantageous to improve upon current disposalfacilities for cigarette butts and in particular those in public areas,to possibly reduce the impact of pollution attributable to cigarettebutts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided areceptacle for waste, the receptacle including an elongated body memberhaving a first end for locating on or in the ground and a second endwith an opening therein for receipt of waste, the second end including athroat of reduced dimension to that of the body member.

As understood by those skilled in the art, in a phenomena known as aventuri effect, fluid increases in velocity as it passes through aconstriction in a channel, pipe or duct. The inventor has found that aventuri effect created in a receptacle by the throat unexpectedlyassists in drawing waste out of the receptacle by suction means.

Typically the elongated body member will be cylindrically shaped,although other shapes are envisaged within the scope of the presentinvention.

Typically the waste to be received in the receptacle will be a cigarettebutt.

The present invention provides in a second aspect a receptacle forwaste, the receptacle including an elongated body member having a firstend for locating on or in the ground and a second end with an openingtherein for receipt of waste, the body member further including inletmeans to permit atmospheric air to be drawn into the body member on theapplication of a vacuum to the body member, wherein contents of thereceptacle are capable of being drawn from the receptacle on theapplication of a vacuum to the body member by entraining withatmospheric air drawn into the body member by the vacuum.

In this embodiment the beneficial venturi effect is enhanced by drawingin atmospheric air to assist the vacuum emptying of the receptacle,rather than merely relying on air already present in the receptacle.

The present invention provides in another aspect a receptacle for waste,the receptacle including an elongated body member having a first end forlocating on or in the ground and a second end with an opening thereinfor receipt of waste, the body member having a first chamber and asecond chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber, the secondchamber in fluid communication with the interior of the receptacle, thefirst chamber having inlet means to permit atmospheric air to be drawninto the first chamber on the application of a vacuum to the bodymember, and the second chamber having inlet means to permit atmosphericair from the first chamber to be drawn into the second chamber on theapplication of a vacuum to the body member, wherein contents of thereceptacle are capable of being drawn from the receptacle on theapplication of a vacuum to the body member by entraining withatmospheric air drawn through the chambers into the receptacle by thevacuum.

In this embodiment, the beneficial venturi effect is produced by the airmoving from the first into the second chamber.

The present invention provides in another aspect a receptacle for waste,the receptacle including:

-   -   (a) a body member having a first end for locating on or in the        ground and a second end with an opening therein for receipt of        waste;    -   (b) inlet means in the body member through which air from the        atmosphere can be drawn in response to a vacuum applied at the        opening; and    -   (c) air velocity increasing means for increasing the velocity of        the air once inside the body member to assist in drawing waste        contained in the receptacle out through the opening.

The present invention provides in another aspect a method for emptyingwaste from a tubular-shaped waste receptacle having a mouth and inletmeans to permit atmospheric air to be drawn into the receptacle, themethod including the steps of:

-   -   (a) applying a vacuum to the mouth of the receptacle to cause        air from the atmosphere to enter the receptacle through the        inlet means; and    -   (b) increasing the velocity of the air once inside the        receptacle to assist in drawing waste contained in the        receptacle out through the mouth of the receptacle.

One significant advantage of the design of the present invention is thatit can take the form of an unobtrusive strategically placed street postor pole, or it can simply replace an existing street post or pole, withappropriate directions for smokers to identify the receptacle andinstructions on how to use it. Other receptacle configurations areenvisaged within the scope of the invention, including bollards and allmanner of supports used in public places such as railway stations andsporting venues.

It is intended that receptacles according to the invention are emptiedusing a fluid or a mixture of fluids. The fluid may be a liquid or agas. Typically the fluid is atmospheric air that is drawn into thereceptacle by a vacuum, however other arrangements such as wherepressurised air and/or water is injected into the receptacle and thendrawn by vacuum out of the receptacle with entrained waste are possible.The fluid may include a deodorising liquid or gas to assist in reducing,minimising or eliminating odour.

In addition to giving rise to a venturi effect as noted above, thethroat of the receptacle is also thought to provide an environmentwithin the receptacle which promotes the creation of a vortex in thereceptacle to facilitate rapid emptying of the receptacle during anemptying operation.

The creation of a vortex may also be promoted by directing the stream ofpressurised air and/or water at an angle to the longitudinal axis of thesubstantially cylindrical body member so that a circular motion can beimparted to the fluid injected into the receptacle and a helical flowpattern for the receptacle contents can be adopted.

The throat of the receptacle may be provided as part of a removableinsert for the receptacle. Accordingly the receptacle may be atwo-component device comprising a substantially cylindrical body memberand a removable insert removably attached to the body member.

An insert as described herein may in one embodiment be used to retrofitan existing tubular pole or post so as to convert it to a receptacle inaccordance with the invention.

The receptacle may include at least one rotatable flap located withinthe body of the cylindrical body member.

The flap may be mounted in the receptacle in a plane which issubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body member.Alternatively the flap may be mounted to a wall of the body member.

In normal day-to-day operation the flap is intended to adopt a downwardorientation so that its leading edge is closer to the base of thecylindrical body member than is its trailing edge. The flap ispreferably mounted such that it is freely rotatable about its mounting,so that in a receptacle emptying operation when the vortex is createdwithin the body member to expel the contents of the receptacle, the flapcan temporarily rotate about its mounting and point in a direction sothat its leading edge is closer to the throat of the body member than isits trailing edge. When the emptying operation is completed, by virtueof its ability to rotate, the flap is able to return to its normalday-to-day operational downward orientation.

In one typical embodiment the mounting for a flap comprises a rod thatextends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis of the member and each end of which is located in opposed recessesin the wall of the cylindrical body member, the flap capable of pivotingabout the rod in response to an upward force such as the creation of avortex within the receptacle.

In another typical embodiment the mounting for a flap comprises aprojection from the inner wall of the cylindrical body member, theprojection providing sufficient spacing from the wall to enable the flapwhen attached to the projection to rotate about a mounting axis asrequired.

The leading edge of the flap may be provided with biasing means to biasthe flap in a downward direction during normal day-to-day operation. Thebiasing means may take any suitable form, but is preferably a weight.

The flap may comprise a pair of wings rotatable about a common axis.

If a plurality of flaps is provided within the receptacle, the flaps arepreferably disposed vertically with respect to one another.

The flap of the receptacle may be provided as part of a removable insertfor the receptacle. Accordingly the receptacle may be a two-componentdevice comprising a substantially cylindrical body member and aremovable insert removably attached to the body member and incorporatingat least one flap.

The flap is thought to perform a number of functions. For example, itcan act as a baffle during a receptacle emptying operation, the bafflepromoting the creation and/or maintenance of a vortex within thereceptacle. The presence of a flap can also help to deter the insertionof foreign objects into the receptacle and can thus prevent or reducethe likelihood of the receptacle being rendered inoperable.

The cylindrical body member will typically in use be provided with aliquid which is enclosed in the base of the body member and into whichthe cigarette butts fall following their placement inside thereceptacle.

The cylindrical body member may be provided with a taper. The taper maybe such that the diameter of the member nearer the first end is greaterthan the diameter of the member nearer the second end such that theangular velocity of the vortex created in the receptacle in an emptyingoperation increases as it moves towards the opening in the second end.Advantageously, the diameter nearer the first end does not exceed about150 mm and the diameter near the second end does not exceed about 100mm.

A receptacle according to the invention is preferably substantiallypermanently fixed to the ground when in situ. The receptacle may besecured to the ground by any convenient means, such as by setting thebase of the receptacle in a concrete footing, or by the provision of aflange at the base of the receptacle which is bolted to a mounting onthe ground.

The invention also provides a method for reinstating the integrity of awaste receptacle, the method including the steps of injecting a fluidinto a receptacle as described herein in such a manner that a vortex orhelical flow pattern is created within the receptacle, and applying avacuum to the receptacle to facilitate rapid emptying of contents of thereceptacle.

The method may further include the step of introducing a deodorisingfluid into the receptacle simultaneously with or shortly after theinitial fluid injection.

The waste receptacle and method of the present invention are thought toprovide several advantages over the prior art. Principally, the wastereceptacle is simpler and cheaper to manufacture than a combined wastebin/ashtray of the prior art, meaning that more receptacles can beprovided. For example, a waste receptacle in accordance with theinvention could be placed every 10 metres or so in heavily populatedareas.

The compact, elongated shape of preferred embodiments of the presentinvention also means that it can be provided in less accessiblelocations than prior art waste receptacles, such as jetties.

The method of emptying the receptacle is thought to provide asignificant improvement over manual emptying, allowing the receptaclesto be frequently emptied to prevent overflow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Several embodiments of the invention will now be described withreference to the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side plan view of a receptacle illustrating a first means ofsecuring the receptacle to the ground;

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of a receptacle illustrating a second meansof securing the receptacle to the ground;

FIG. 3 is a close up view of the first end of the receptacle illustratedin FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view through the line A-A of FIG. 2illustrating the cap member fitted to the body member;

FIG. 4A is a side plan view of the cap member illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 5 and 5A are respectively side and perspective views of analternative embodiment of a cap member.

FIG. 6 is side plan view of the second end of a receptacle illustratingthe position of the flap in the absence of the vortex;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the position of the flaps whenthe vortex is applied;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are plan view of an alternative embodiment of the flaparrangement;

FIG. 10 illustrates waste receptacles in accordance with the inventionhaving external aesthetic features applied thereto;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are plan views of a second embodiment of a wastereceptacle in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view along the line B-B of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Turning to FIG. 1 a waste receptacle 100 is illustrated. The wastereceptacle comprises an elongated substantially cylindrical shaped bodymember 102 manufactured from any suitable material such as a stainlesssteel or an anodised aluminium. The waste receptacle is particularly,but not exclusively, suited for erection outdoors and so in theembodiment shown has a first end 104 secured to the ground 106. A secondend 108 extends vertically upwardly from the first end 104.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the member 102 may be secured to theground by any convenient means, such as by concrete 114 or by a flange116 that is fixed around the first end 104 of the member. A plurality ofbolts 118 extend through the flange 116 to secure the member 102 to theground.

The member 102 is substantially hollow and has an opening 110 in thesecond end 108 for the receipt of cigarette butts. A liquid 112 such aswater is held in the base of the member 102. The liquid acts toextinguish cigarette butts that are inserted into the receptacle andfall towards the second end 108. As described in further details below,the liquid can also functionally contribute to the process of emptyingthe receptacle 100.

Turning to FIGS. 4 and 5, a roughly cylindrical shaped cap member 103 isfitted over the second end 108 of the body member 102 (shown in dottedoutline) and secured to the body member 102 by any convenient means suchas bolts 105. The cap member 103 comprises a vertically disposed outerwall 111, having a top 107 projecting radially inwardly therefrom. Aroughly hour glass shaped inner member 113 extends downwardly from thetop 107 to sit inside the second end 108 of the body member 102. Thetransition between the upper portion 113A and the lower portion 113B ofthe inner member 113 defines a throat 109 of reduced diameter to that ofthe cylindrically shaped body member 102.

The cap member 103, which may be made of the same material as the bodymember 102, or by other material such as a suitable plastic.

An alternative embodiment of the cap member 103 is illustrated in FIGS.5 and 5A where a first 119 and second rod 115 are included.

The inventor has found that a particularly suitable diameter for thebody member to be around 150 mm and for the throat 109 to be around 110mm. The reduced diameter of the throat 109 assists in the creation of avortex which is used to empty the member. This aspect of the inventionis described in further detail below.

Turning to FIGS. 6 and 7 a housing 121 is illustrated that in use, sitsinside the cap member 103 which together form a removable insert. Therod 119 extends through the housing 121 in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the longitudinal axis 111 of the body member 102. Afirst 120 and a second 122 flap, each having a proximal (128, 130) and adistal (124, 126) end, are pivotably coupled to the rod at theirrespective proximal ends (128 and 130). The distal ends 124 and 126 ofthe flaps are of increased weight compared to the proximal end, therebycausing the distal ends to be biased in a downwards direction towardsthe first end of the member 110 in normal day-to-day operation, asillustrated more clearly in FIG. 6.

A stopper 132 is also coupled to the rod and is located between theproximal ends of the flaps 120, 122. The rod 119, first and second flapsand stopper 132 together form a modular unit 134 and a plurality theunits (in this case 2) may be aligned within the housing to be disposedco-axially along the longitudinal axis of the body member 102 atdifferent heights. The removable insert may be replaced when damaged, orretrofitted to an existing cylindrical shaped pole or post.

In an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 5A the flaps donot include the biasing means or stopper. In this embodiment the flapsare aligned substantially along the longitudinal axis of the receptacle100 during both normal day-to-day operation and during emptying.

In use, cigarette butts 137 are received through the opening 110 andfall between the distal ends 124, 126 of the flaps 120, 122 and insidewall 131 of the member 110. The cigarette butts fall downwardly towardsthe second end of the member 110 and are extinguished by the liquid 112contained therein.

The receptacle is emptied by applying through a suitably configured hosea stream of high pressure air through the upper opening 110 of thereceptacle. Owing to the curved walls of the receptacle and the dynamicsof the air stream, a vortex is created which causes the liquid andcigarette butts to adopt a helical flow pattern around the internalperiphery of the member 102 towards the opening 110. A vacuum is appliedshortly thereafter.

In response to the creation of the vortex 136 and the application of thevacuum, the flaps (120 and 122) pivoted about the rod 119 therebylifting the distal ends 124, 126, towards the second end 108 of themember 110. The tendency of the flaps 120, 122 to align themselves alongthe longitudinal axis of the member 110 is prevented by stopper 132 thatis disposed between the flaps. In this position the flaps 120, 122 actas a baffle for preventing the vortex 136 straying from the periphery ofthe member 110 into the central area and thereby assists the exit of theliquid and cigarette butts included in the vortex, out of the opening110.

In use, the vortex generation means (not shown) also refills the liquidin the second end of the member and injects a deodoriser into the membershortly after the contents of the receptacle have been evacuated. Uponcessation of the vortex the weighted distal ends cause the flaps 120,122 to return to the position illustrated in FIG. 3.

An alternative embodiment of flaps is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9,where the flaps 120, 122, 123 are pivotally coupled to a mounting 140that is affixed to the wall 131 of the cylindrical body member.Responsive to the creation of the vortex, the flaps 120, 122, 123 pivotupwardly about the mounting 140 to substantially align themselves alongthe longitudinal axis of the member 110.

The member 102 may have external aesthetic and functional featuresapplied thereto, as illustrated in FIG. 10.

An alternative embodiment of a waste receptacle in accordance with theinvention is described by reference to FIGS. 11 to 13. In thisembodiment, the receptacle 200 comprises a main body member 200, ofsubstantially the same construction set out above and a separatedividing member 202. At its upper region 204, the dividing member 202 issubstantially cylindrical and has a diameter slightly less than thediameter of the body member 200. The lower region of the dividing membercomprises an inwardly tapering conical portion 208 that extends from theupper region.

A cage member 205 is attached to the exterior of body member 200 byscrews, for the purpose of displaying advertising or informationalmaterial on the receptacle 200. The material can be slotted into thecage member 205 and replaced as an when required.

When the dividing member 202 is inserted into the body member 200 (FIG.13), by simply dropping the dividing member 202 into the mouth of thebody member 200, the cylindrical portion of the dividing member 202 fitstightly into the body member 200, with the conical portion 208 dividingthe receptacle into a first (outer) chamber 210, formed by the outerwall of the of the dividing member and the inner wall of the bodymember, and a second (inner) chamber 211, formed by the dividing member202.

An inlet 212 in the form of three offset rows of circumferentiallyspaced holes provides a fluid connection between the external atmosphereand the first chamber 210. The base of the dividing member has a seriesof “mousehole” shaped sections 216 removed therefrom, to provide asecond fluid connection, between the outer 210 and inner 211 chambers.

As described above, it has been found useful to provide a volume ofliquid, 214 such as water with a deodorising element into the receptacle200. The liquid 214, acts to not only extinguish cigarette butts placedinto the receptacle, but also assists in emptying the receptacle byvacuum suction, as is now described.

To empty the receptacle, a vacuum device (not shown) makes a sealingconnection to the mouth of the receptacle 218 and a suction force isapplied. The suction force causes the liquid 214, along with anycigarette butts or other waste entrained therewith to be drawn upwardly(arrow A) through the inner chamber 211. The suction force and themoving liquid with entrained waste also causes atmospheric air to enterthe outer chamber 210 through the inlets 212 (arrow B). Once in theouter chamber 210, the suction force continues to draw the air throughthe mouse holes 216 and into the inner chamber 212 (arrow C).

When the air negotiates the constriction posed by the mouse holes 216, aventuri effect is created, causing the velocity of the air to increaseas it enters the inner chamber 211. This volume of fast moving air, addsto the suction force to allow the liquid and any waste entrainedtherewith, to be quickly and efficiently emptied. The inventor has foundthat a single receptacle can be emptied using only a moderate suctionforce, in around 4 seconds.

Modifications and improvements to the invention will be readily apparentto those skilled in the art. Such modifications and improvements areintended to be within the scope of this invention.

1. A receptacle for waste, the receptacle including an elongated bodymember having a first end for locating on or in the ground and a secondend with an opening therein for receipt of waste, said body memberhaving a first chamber and a second chamber, said second chamberdisposed at least partly within said first chamber and in fluidcommunication with said first chamber and with the interior of saidreceptacle, said first chamber having inlet means to permit atmosphericair to be drawn into said first chamber on the application of a vacuumto said body member, and said second chamber having inlet means topermit atmospheric air from said first chamber to be drawn into saidsecond chamber on the application of said vacuum to said body member,wherein contents of the receptacle are capable of being drawn from saidreceptacle on the application of said vacuum to said body member byentraining with said atmospheric air drawn through said chambers intosaid receptacle by said vacuum.
 2. A receptacle for waste according toclaim 1, wherein said second chamber is tapered.
 3. A receptacle forwaste according to claim 2, wherein said taper is in the region of saidfirst end of said body member.
 4. A receptacle for waste, saidreceptacle including: a body member having a first end for locating onor in the ground and a second end with an opening therein for receipt ofwaste; inlet means in the body member through which air from theatmosphere can be drawn in response to a vacuum applied at the opening;and a venturi device located in the body member for increasing thevelocity of the air once inside the body member to assist in drawingwaste contained in said receptacle out through said opening, said devicecomprising a dividing member that divides the body member along at leastpart of its length into an inner region and an outer region, thedividing member having an aperture, such that the velocity of air movingin response to the vacuum from said outer region to said inner regionincreases due to a venturi effect, as it passes through said aperture.5. A receptacle according to claim 4, wherein said dividing member issubstantially conical shaped.
 6. A receptacle according to claim 4,wherein said aperture comprises a plurality of circumferentially spacedopenings.
 7. A receptacle according to claim 6, wherein said openingsare located at the base of said aperture and are substantiallymouse-hole shaped.
 8. A receptacle according to any claim 4, whereinsaid body member is divided into said inner region and said outer regionalong a portion of its length commencing at the second end with theapertures being located below the inlet means.
 9. A receptacle accordingto claim 4, wherein the dividing member forms part of or is a separateunit that is insertable into the body member.
 10. A receptacle accordingto claim 9, wherein the unit comprises a cylindrical portion having adiameter of slightly less than the body member such that the portion canbe tightly fitted into the body member, and a conical portion extendingfrom the cylindrical portion, the conical portion when inserted into thebody member dividing the body member into the inner region and the outerregion.
 11. A receptacle according to 4, wherein the inlet means is atleast one row of circumferentially spaced holes in the body member. 12.A receptacle according to claim 11, wherein the holes of each row areoffset from the holes of an adjacent row.
 13. A receptacle according toclaim 11, wherein a row of holes is located around 150 mm from thesecond end of the body member.
 14. A receptacle according to claim 4,wherein the receptacle includes a liquid for entraining with the wasteduring an emptying operation.
 15. A receptacle according to claim 4, andfurther including restriction means for restricting the size of wasteplaced in the receptacle, the restriction means not substantiallyimpeding the movement of waste out through the opening in response tothe vacuum.
 16. A receptacle according to claim 15, wherein therestriction means is at least one plate that in response to the vacuummoves from a waste-receiving position wherein the or each plate liesacross the body member to restrict the size of waste placed therein, andwaste emptying position wherein the plate is aligned substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of the body member.
 17. A receptacleaccording to claim 15, wherein the restriction means is incorporated inan insert that is attachable to the body member.
 18. A method foremptying waste from a receptacle according to claim 1, the methodincluding the steps of: applying a vacuum to the mouth of the receptacleto cause air from the atmosphere to enter the receptacle through theinlet means; and increasing the velocity of the air once inside thereceptacle to assist in drawing waste contained in the receptacle outthrough the mouth of the receptacle.
 19. A method according to claim 18,and further including the step of adding a liquid and optionally adeodoriser to the receptacle after the waste is removed, the liquidentraining with the waste when the receptacle is emptied. 20-39.(canceled)